Bag of Cheetos sparks environmental problem in US

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico has prohibited visitors from consuming anything inside the cave except water to preserve its fragile ecosystem.

In a recent Facebook post, park rangers highlighted an incident where a visitor dropped a bag of Cheetos inside the cave, causing a significant impact on the cave's internal environment.

"The processed corn, softened by the humidity of the cave, formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi," it wrote.

"Cave crickets, mites, spiders and flies soon organize into a temporary food web, dispersing the nutrients to the surrounding cave and formations. Molds spread higher up the nearby surfaces, fruit, die and stink. And the cycle continues."

It took park rangers about 20 minutes to carefully remove the mold and debris. The park described the damage as "entirely avoidable" and urged visitors to respect the environment and leave it better than they found it.

The park’s website warned that consuming anything other than water can attract animals to the cave and endanger its ecosystem. Visitors can access the cave via a two-kilometer flat trail.